A La Carte Definition

äləkärt, aləkärt
adjective
With a separate price for each item on the menu.
American Heritage

(Food and drink) Allowing selection from a fixed list of individually priced options shown on the menu.

The restaurant had a huge à la carte menu and four specials that day.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:
  • table d'hote
adverb
With a separate price for each item on the menu.
Webster's New World
Alternative form of à la carte.
Wiktionary

By ordering individually priced items from the menu.

We ate à la carte as that was most economic.
Wiktionary

Origin of A La Carte

  • Borrowing from French à la carte ("on the menu; according to the card").

    From Wiktionary

  • French à la carte by the menu

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition